Load attachement device

ABSTRACT

A collar is disclosed for attachment about a remotely located article to be lifted. Disposed about the resilient collar are cincture means for reducing the effective diameter of the collar causing gripping contact of the collar with the article upon contraction of the cable means. A guide cone is shown mounted upon the collar&#39;&#39;s lower end to facilitate placement of the device on the article to be lifted. The device is suspended in a normal open position by a rope prior to load engagement.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Wesley G. Lematta 1715 Edgeclifl Terrace, Lake Oswego, Oreg. 97034 [21] Appl. No. 817,333 [22] Filed Apr. 18, 1969 [45] Patented June 29, 1971 [54] LOAD ATTACHEMENTDEVICE 7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. 294/66, 294/67 BA, 294/67 EA, 294/74, 294/86 R [51] Int. Cl B66c 1/00 [50] Field of Search 294/67, 86, 74, 77, 92; 37/2 [56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,364,170 12/1944 Sonntag 294/74 2,707,846 5/1955 Beseler 294/74 X 3,290,083 12/1966 Norton 294/74 FOREIGN PATENTS 43,492 12/1965 Germany 294/67 (.4)

Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-Douglas D. Watts Attorney-James D. Givnan, Jr.

ABSTRACT: A collar is disclosed for attachment about a remotely located article to be lifted. Disposed about the resilient collar are cincture means for reducing the effective diameter of the collar causing gripping contact of the collar with the article upon contraction of the cable means. A guide cone is shown mounted upon the collar's lower end to facilitate placement of the device on the article to be lifted. The device is suspended in a normal open position by a rope prior to load engagement.

PATENTED JUN29 l97l LOAD ATTACIIEMENT DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to load attachment devices for use with a hoist line and more particularly to a resilient collar and a cincture for biasing the collar into gripping engagement with a remote load to be lifted.

Prior attachment devices of which I am aware require that an article being lifted be provided with hook attachments or rigged with a sling arrangement to insure a secure attachment to the lift imparting line. In loading of cargo the same is usually hoisted or lifted from a site whereat workmen may conveniently prepare the cargo for attachment to the hoist line of a craneor the like.

The present invention is particularly directed toward accomplishing secure attachment of a hoist line to a load without preparatory rigging of the load and without manual effort being required to effect hoist line and load attachment. These advantages of such a load-lifting device as presently shown and described have been found extremely useful in the lifting of articles out of a body of water wherein manual attachment is very inconvenient and almost impossible under an adverse water condition. Further the article being lifted need not be provided with or have protuberances for the attachment of a hoist line for the reason that a centripetal force is exerted causing a flexible collar of the present device to frictionally grip the body of the article. Accordingly both the exterior curvature and diameter of the article being lifted may vary from article to article.

One useful application of the instant hoist line load attaching device has been in connection with the recovery of practice torpedoes. Previously waterborne equipment has been used in such recovery. With the present invention the torpedo is recoverable by helicopter with the attachment device being lowered into place about the upper end portion of the spent practice torpedo. The use of a helicopter to recover the torpedoes now possible with the present device effects a great savings in time and effort as compared with their recovery by the conventional method and equipment.

Upon an understanding of the invention from the following specification and accompanying drawing other uses of the present device will become apparent such uses not being restricted to an airborne support.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprehends a collar for placement downwardly over anarticle to be lifted. The collar is contractable about the article upon a lifting force being exerted on a hoist line connected with cincture means disposed about the collar. The collar wall is ofresilient construction for biased contact with the article being lifted upon contraction of the cincture means.

Supplementing the advantages above noted for the present device it is an object of the invention to provide a load attachment device for any hoist line which is self-attachable to the load i.e., does not require manual effort at the loading site. While the invention is disclosed in connection with the recovery of practice torpedoes other uses are believed readily apparent. The uncomplicated nature of the device provides a high degree of reliability and one not susceptible to failure during use adverse environments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawing:

FIG. I is a side elevational view of the load attachment device suspended'from a helicopter and in place about a spent torpedo,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the device in an open configuration with an attached conical guide framework being sectioned for illustrative purposes,

FIG. 3 is a sectional, plan view taken along line 3-3 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectional detail view taken along line 5-5 of F IGQ 2 showing the interface and attachment of the conical guide framework to the collar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With continuing reference to the accompanying drawing wherein applied reference numerals indicate parts similarly identified in the following specification the reference numeral 10 indicates generally the load attachment device suspended from a helicopter 11 and in place about a spent torpedo.

A hoist line 12 depends from the helicopter and is fitted with a hook assembly 13 at its lower end the latter preferably being electrically operated for hook closing and opening by the helicopter pilot or crewmember. A very satisfactory hookassembly for this use is manufactured and sold by the Eastern Rotocraft Company. For suspension of the load attachment device 10 below the helicopter, prior to gripping engagement with the load, a nylon suspension line or rope 14 is provided affixed to the upper end of the device as later more fully explained.

The load attachment device 10 includes a collar portion 16 of resilient rubber material, preferably neoprene rubber, of an approximate thickness of one-quarter inch. A collar length of 3 feet has proven satisfactory for most loads Integral with the upper and lower ends of the collar are semirigid rings 17 of neoprene which function as stiffening means to retain the collar portion 16 in circular shape in its relaxed, normal conditron.

The device l0 further includes vertically disposed stiffeners I8 arcuately spaced about and interconnecting the upper and lower rings thus maintaining same in parallel spaced relationship and hence collar 16 in generally cylindrical shape. The stiffeners are also of neoprene rubber terminating at their ends in fused attachment to the rings. Upper and lower end segments of the stiffeners 18 may also be fused as at 20 to theadjacent collar portions but only to the extent as to not undesirably restrict the flexibility of the collar portion 16.

Cincture means for collar 16 is shown as a cable 21 wound in place about the exterior of the collar. The cable is loosely and slidably retained in spiraled placement about the cylindrical collar 16 by means of rubber loops 22 bonded to the collars outer wall. Upwardly extending end segments 21A of the cable terminate upwardly at hook assembly 13 and, pass downwardly to one side of the upper ring 17 the segments being joined by a cable clamp 23. From this it will be apparent that an upward pull on cable segments 21A will impart an asymmetrical upward force to the previously described components of the attachment device. Such upward movement of the cable 21 is resisted initially by the weight of the rubber components resulting in sliding, contracting movement of the cable 21 relative to the collar 16. The weight of the collar will resist the lifting movement of cable 21 to cause the flexible portion 16 thereof to contract into contact with the article being lifted. Continued upward pull on the cable with the collar being in contact with the article will ultimately effect a frictiontight cincturing of the resilient collar 16 against the article. Release of the article is achieved by the article, at its destination, being supported by means not shown enabling the cable 21 to be slacked off with the collar 16 consequently returning to its open relaxed configuration whereupon it may be removed from the article as conveniently provided for by rope M.

The previously mentioned rope 14 is diametrically attached by brackets 29 bolted to the upper ring of the device to enable suspension of the undistorted device in an upright manner to facilitate placement about the article to be lifted. The collar when so suspended is of course in its open, relaxed condition.

Aflixed to the lower ring 17 is a conical guide framework 24 and is of open, welded rod construction. The large circular lower end 25 of the framework facilitates placement of the lifting device about the article with the open construction being advantageous to avoid wind effect. An angular rim 26 as best shown in FIG. 5 is attached to the lower ring 17 by bolts 27.

In addition to the operative sequence above set forth, the attachment device is initially suspended from a load lifting support, shown as a helicopter, by the nylon rope 14 with the hoist line 12 and the cable 21 connected thereto being in a slack condition. Upon lowering of the rope suspended device into the desired position about the article to be lifted an upward force is then imparted as previously described to the hoisting line 12 and hence cable 21 to contract the collar 16 as previously into gripping engagement with the article. This upward force in the particular use shown may be either by the helicopter shown initiating a climb or by retrieval of the line 12 by its winch.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by a Letters Patent is:

l. A load attachment device for remote attachment to the article being lifted, said device for suspension from a source of lifting force such as a helicopter, said device comprising in combination,

an elongate collar of resilient material for circumferentially spaced placement about a remotely located article to be lifted with the article to be lifted being of a lesser cross section than the normal sectional dimension of said collar, means suspending said collar in a normal open configuration from the source of lifting force, and cincture means extending about the collars exterior and thence upwardly to the source of lifting force, said cincture slidably wound about said collar in a helical manner and contractable upon a lifting force being exerted on said cincture means, said cincture means upon contraction causing the resilient collar to close into circumferential engagement about the article to be lifted with a continued lifting force resulting in the article being lifted. 2. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cincture means extends upwardly from said collar in offset relationship to the longitudinal axis of the collar whereby a lifting force exerting on the cincture means will cause the collar to move initially into a canted position to contact the article to be lifted I with subsequent lifting force resulting in said circumferential engagement of the collar with the article being lifted.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said collar includes integral stifieners spaced about the circumference of the collar and extending the length thereof to retain the collar in cylindrical configuration prior to contraction about a load.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cincture means comprises a cable helically wound about the collar, loop structures carried by said collar slidably receiving said cable for retention of the cable in its helically wound disposition about the collar.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1 additionally including a guide framework of conical shape in depending attachment to the lower end of the collar to facilitate lowering of the collar to a position circumjacent the article to be lifted.

6. The method of attaching a suspended load attachment device to an article to be lifted consisting of the steps of,

suspending a resilient collar in open undistorted configuration from a source of lifting force,

locating the suspended collar downwardly into suspended circumjacent relationship to the article to be lifted, releasing the tension on a suspension line carrying said collar,

subsequently suspending the collar by cincture means slidably encircling the resilient collar and in upward attachment with the-source of lifting force, and

exerting a lifting force on said cincture means for contraction of the cincture means and the collar to bring the collar into gripping contact with the article being lifted.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the step of suspending the collar is by means of a suspension line the paying out of which transfers the collars weight to said cincture means resulting in said last mentioned means initially contacting the article to be lifted. 

1. A load attachment device for remote attachment to the article being lifted, said device for suspension from a source of lifting force such as a helicopter, said device comprising in combination, an elongate collar of resilient material for circumferentially spaced placement about a remotely located article to be lifted with the article to be lifted being of a lesser cross section than the normal sectional dimension of said collar, means suspending said collar in a normal open configuration from the source of lifting force, and cincture means extending about the collars exterior and thence upwardly to the source of lifting force, said cincture slidably wound about said collar in a helical manner and contractable upon a lifting force being exerted on said cincture means, said cincture means upon contraction causing the resilient collar to close into circumferential engagement about the article to be lifted with a continued lifting force resulting in the article being lifted.
 2. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cincture means extends upwardly from said collar in offset relationship to the longitudinal axis of the collar whereby a lifting force exerting on the cincture means will cause the collar to move initially into a canted position to contact the article to be lifted with subsequent lifting force resulting in said circumferential engagement of the collar with the article being lifted.
 3. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said collar includes integral stiffeners spaced about the circumference of the collar and extending the length thereof to retain the collar in cylindrical configuration prior to contraction about a load.
 4. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cincture means comprises a cable helically wound about the collar, loop structures carried by said collar slidably receiving said cable for retention of the cable in its helically wound disposition about the collar.
 5. The device as claimed in claim 1 additionally including a guide framework of conical shape in depending attachment to the lower end of the collar to facilitate Lowering of the collar to a position circumjacent the article to be lifted.
 6. The method of attaching a suspended load attachment device to an article to be lifted consisting of the steps of, suspending a resilient collar in open undistorted configuration from a source of lifting force, locating the suspended collar downwardly into suspended circumjacent relationship to the article to be lifted, releasing the tension on a suspension line carrying said collar, subsequently suspending the collar by cincture means slidably encircling the resilient collar and in upward attachment with the source of lifting force, and exerting a lifting force on said cincture means for contraction of the cincture means and the collar to bring the collar into gripping contact with the article being lifted.
 7. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the step of suspending the collar is by means of a suspension line the paying out of which transfers the collars weight to said cincture means resulting in said last mentioned means initially contacting the article to be lifted. 